Study - Reading

The chronological Bible reading schedule and daily comments are taken directly from:
Skip Andrew's Chronological Reading Schedule.
The daily links are to each day's reading (King James Version) at BibleGateway.com.

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

Reading
Comments
The ten plagues end with the death of the firstborn and the beginning of the yearly Passover for the Israelites.
These scriptures tell us of the departure from Egypt and their early travel.
This chapter is the record of the defeat of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, also referred to as the “baptism” of the Israelites by Paul in I Corinthians 10. Here is the song of victory and more early travels of the new nation.
Now we “get” to read about the early murmurings of Israel and God's gracious responses.
They continue to travel and murmur. Moses' father-in-law provides some valuable advice that would definitely make things better for everybody.

Moses now meets Jehovah in order to receive His commandments. Notice in Exodus 20:8-11 that the scriptures say God created “all” in six days—days that were just like the Sabbath they were to observe (which was a 24-hour day). This “all” includes the heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1).

In these chapters, Moses receives many additional commandments that are to govern everyday life in Israel. Consider the wisdom of God in these laws. Notice also the statements about the “Angel” in chapter 23.

These three chapters describe the various items that were to be in the tabernacle.

In these two chapters, Moses is given instructions regarding the first priests of the house of Aaron.
This chapter describes several more of the tools of the priesthood.

This chapter closes out this part of the laws received by Moses; informing us that the workmen who were to make the items described in the previous chapters would be guided by the Spirit of God in their work, reminding them to keep the Sabbath, and closing by giving Moses the tablets of stone.
Here we have the story of the Israelites' idolatry while Moses was on the mount (chapter 32). In chapter 33, the command to conquer the sinful nations in Canaan is renewed. Finally, in chapter 34, the ten commandments are replaced.

Here we have the liberality of the people in providing the items that were needed to construct the tabernacle. In chapters 36 and 37, the work begins.

This is the record of the rest of the work on the tabernacle.
In this chapter, the priestly items were made.
Here are the instructions for erecting the tabernacle.

Note that Exodus 40:17 and Numbers 1:1 are only one month apart. This means that from the Exodus to the erecting of the tabernacle was one year, and from the erecting of the tabernacle to the command in Numbers 1:1 was one month - so if Leviticus is in order, all of the events in Leviticus took place in one month!
Several of the sacrifices are described as to their content and purpose.
More sacrifices are described.
Here is the beginning of the priesthood—and the death of two priests for offering unauthorized fire to God. Woe to those who change God's pattern of worship!
Chapter 11 is a list of clean and unclean meats. Chapter 12 deals with the purification of women after childbirth. Chapter 13 is about leprosy.

Chapter 14 gives instructions for the cleansing of the leper. Chapter 15 is about the purification of men and women. Chapter 16 gives laws for the day of atonement.

Many more laws are now given to Israel through Moses, covering both positive and negative regulations. In particular, notice the commands to “be holy” (19:7,26; see I Peter 1:15,16).

These chapters give laws governing the priests and the feasts.

The book closes with many more laws, governing the use of the land (chapter 25), blessings and cursings (chapter 26), vows, etc. (chapter 27).
A comparison of Exodus 40:17 and Numbers 1:1 shows that only one month passed between these two verses. Numbers, however, covers all of the rest of the wanderings up until the arrival of the nation on the east side of Jordan. Now, if you will compare Deuteronomy 1:3 with Numbers 1:1, you will see that 38 years and 9 months are covered in Numbers. Almost all of that period comes after the Israelites received the sentence that the first generation would die in the wilderness as a punishment for their sins.

The numbering of the people continues.

More laws are given, as in Exodus and Leviticus. Note especially the laws
for the Nazarites (chapter 6), and the beautiful promise of 6:24-26.

In addition to the giving of more laws, they are commanded to observe the
Passover in chapter 9. Also note Numbers 10:10—20 days after the
beginning of the book, the Israelites are to depart from Sinai.

Feb 23

 The words “murmur” and “journey” describe this section well. They
continued the murmuring that we saw as soon as they crossed the Red Sea -
a sin that would cost them dearly. The journeys that we have in this reading
took the Israelites from Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea, where Moses sent 12 spies
into the land.

The 12 spies were sent to Canaan very early in the journey, even though
many stops had already been made. You can check this out by reading
Joshua 14, where Caleb (one of the spies) tells us that he was 85 years old in
Joshua 14, but only 40 when Moses chose him. The 45 years in between
were covered by 38 years of wandering and 7 years of conquering Canaan.
So, the 12 spies were sent out in the second year after the Exodus.

Now we are in the years of the punishment—when the “unbelievers” died in
the wilderness (see Psalm 95 and Hebrews 3:7-19). Here we see the giving
and the breaking of various laws.
Several verses from Numbers 33 are scattered through today's reading in
order to arrange the wanderings in chronological order. This reading also
shows that the years of wandering are nearly over, for the deaths of Miriam
and Aaron (chapter 20) occurred after the journey was nearly complete.
Sadly, Numbers 20 and 21 show that the people had not changed much, for
continuing in sin was still causing them to be punished by God.

In the first three chapters of this reading, Balaam, the wicked prophet, is the
main character. In chapter 25, Israel sins again, leading to the deaths of
24,000 in a plague sent by God.

Numbers 26 is the record of the numbering of the people at the end of the
wanderings. Notice especially verses 63-65. Chapter 27 gives the law of
inheritance for a family with no sons. It is also the chapter where Moses
receives the instructions to go view Canaan before his death, and to appoint
Joshua as his successor. Chapter 28 discusses daily, weekly, and yearly
sacrifices.